PlainZIP

Birmingham, AL · standard

ZIP Code 35217

Jefferson County, Alabama - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

13,729
294/sq mi
$40,486
Median income
$120,400
Median home value
12.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Birmingham pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

6th pct
household income, US ZIPs
17th pct
home value, US ZIPs
294
people per sq mi
48%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 35217 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 35217 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, home to 13,729 residents across 46.8 square miles, a density of 294 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 35217 reports a modest median household income of $40,486 (34% below the Alabama average), while per-capita income is $23,064. The poverty rate stands at 24.2% and the unemployment rate at 6.9%. The typical home here is valued at $120,400 (32% below the state average); renters pay a median of $933 monthly, and 47.5% of units are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 27 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Jefferson County, so you can benchmark 35217 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 35217

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Birmingham, AL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 35217.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 35217, Birmingham, AL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

13,729

Population

46.8

Area (sq mi)

294

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 35217?

40.4

Median Age

45.4%

Male

54.6%

Female

9.0%

Foreign-Born

White 29.0%
African American 53.4%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 13.1%
Hispanic or Latino 17.4%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$40,486

Median Household Income

-34% vs state

$23,064

Per Capita Income

24.2%

Poverty Rate

6.9%

Unemployment Rate

26.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 35217 ranks nationally

Birmingham, AL household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$40,486 6th percentile higher than 6% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 44.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,231

Total Housing Units

5,206

Occupied Units

1,025

Vacant Units

2.32

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 47.5%
Renter 52.5%

$120,400

Median Home Value

-32% vs state

$933

Median Rent

1961

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+12.6%

YoY Change (2024)

190

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+90%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 35217 have increased 12.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +90% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +10.2% 133
2021 +12.1% 150
2022 +16.0% 173
2023 -2.7% 169
2024 +12.6% 190

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 319 business establishments in ZIP 35217, employing approximately 9,765 people with a combined annual payroll of $711,296,000.

319

Businesses

9,765

Employees

$711.3M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 48 15.1%
Wholesale trade 42 13.2%
Retail trade 42 13.2%
Manufacturing 38 11.9%
Transportation and warehousing 33 10.3%
Construction 32 10.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 22 6.9%
Accommodation and food services 15 4.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 14 4.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 9 2.8%
Finance and insurance 8 2.5%
Health care and social assistance 6 1.9%
Educational services 3 0.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 35217 vs 35119 →

ZIP 35217 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 35217 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 35217 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 35217 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
35119 New Castle, AL 116 2.6 mi
35212 Birmingham, AL 11,539 4.2 mi
35068 Fultondale, AL 7,232 4.1 mi
35206 Birmingham, AL 17,177 3.8 mi
35222 Birmingham, AL 7,884 5.8 mi
35215 Birmingham, AL 46,951 4.2 mi
35207 Birmingham, AL 9,010 4.6 mi
35234 Birmingham, AL 6,311 5.3 mi
35213 Birmingham, AL 13,185 7.1 mi
35235 Birmingham, AL 19,484 6.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jefferson County

35215 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 46,951
35216 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 36,408
35244 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 32,390
35226 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 31,471
35209 standard
Birmingham, AL
Pop: 29,544
35020 standard
Bessemer, AL
Pop: 27,139

Related Areas

Jefferson County Birmingham, AL Alabama

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 35217 in? ▼
ZIP code 35217 (Birmingham) is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. Jefferson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jefferson-al.
What is the population of ZIP code 35217? ▼
ZIP code 35217 in Birmingham, AL has a population of 13,729 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 35217? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 35217 is $40,486, which is 47% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 35217? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 35217 is $120,400, which is 57% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 35217? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 35217 is African American at 53.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 17.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 35217? ▼
ZIP code 35217 has 319 business establishments employing approximately 9,765 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 35217? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 35217 are: Other services (except public administration) (48), Wholesale trade (42), Retail trade (42). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 35217? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 35217 increased by 12.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 90%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 35217? ▼
In ZIP code 35217, 44.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 35217? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 35217 is 26.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 35217? ▼
In ZIP code 35217, approximately 47.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 52.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 35217? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 35217 is 24.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.